WAU boss discusses Toyota development progress

Walkinshaw Andretti United is "ticking off all of the key areas” in the development of the Supra Supercar, says team CEO Bruce Stewart.

Toyota will join the championship in 2026, led by homologation team WAU and the recently-announced Brad Jones Racing.

The GR Supra Supercar is currently under development at WAU, led by Team Principal Carl Faux. Six Supras will be on the 2026 grid, alongside 10 Ford Mustangs and eight Chevrolet Camaros.

The project was announced in September last year, with a clay model unveiled during last October’s Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.

In February, WAU owner Ryan Walkinshaw said the Toyota Supercar project was “progressing well” with plans to "show everyone towards the second half of the year.”

Speaking in Tasmania, Stewart says plans to have track testing start in the second half of the year remain on track.

“Look, all I’ll say is we’ve got a very firm timeline, we’ve got an amazingly large Gantt chart and we’re ticking off all of the key areas,” Stewart told media.

“Do we expect there to be challenges along the way? Yes, there always will be.

“But are we in control of the program? Yes, we are. All I’ll say is at the start of the second half of the year, you’ll see one of the cars and it will look fantastic.”

The GR Supra Supercars are set to compete with Toyota's 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated 2UR-GSE V8, which has been used Lexus F performance models as well as the current LC500.

Stewart hailed the new partnership with BJR, saying the collaborative approach will help the project “hit the ground running early.”

BJR has already commenced work on its first Supra Supercar, with Chevrolet Camaros also set to be converted to Toyotas.

“We would expect when we start the engine running that you’ll come across that on-track, you’ll come across those challenges, or you may not,” Stewart said.

“All I can say its there is a solid testing program planned and will go in place. We won’t kid ourselves to think that this will be seamless. There will always be bumps in the road.

“But we have got a really strong team and now it’s been extended, and we have got a strong partner [in BJR] that can also help collaborate.”

When asked if he believes Toyota can win in 2026, Stewart said: “If I said that you’d have to be looking at me with… you don’t know what you don’t know.

“All I know is with great partners, more cars and transparency, you’re more likely to hit the ground running early, and that is strength.”

The 2025 season will resume in Perth on June 6-8. Tickets on sale now.